Means for applying liquids to yarns, threads, filaments, straws, tapes, bristles, or like textile materials



Aprifi 3@, 1935. w LQWE ET AL 1,999,417

MEANS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS TO YARNs, THREADS, FILAMENTS,

BRISTLES, OR LIKE TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed May 19, 1931 STRAWS, TAPES,

WILLIAM R. LOWE REGINALD H-I RLEY INVENTCRS z fw ill till

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talented p 1935 MEANS roe arrrrnvo LllQ UliDS To t THRES, FAMENTS, STRAWS, TAPES, BRISTLES, 0R amp TEXTJILE MATERIALS William Geoffrey Lowe and Reginald Henry John Riley, Spondon, near llllerby, England, assignors to Celanese (Corporation cl America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 19, 1931, Serial Nojwdfii lln Great Britain November l, 193% 5 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of yarns, threads, filaments, straws, tapes, bristles and like textile materials, (hereinafter referred to as yarns) and is particularly concerned with the application of liquid materials to the surface of such yarns while they are travelling. It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby the uniform and constant application of liquid over the whole surface of a travelling yarn may be accomplished.

According to this invention means for applying liquid materials to travelling yarns comprises a pair of opposing surfaces of absorbent material adapted to be supplied with the liquid to be applied, and means for pressing together the surfaces upon the travelling yarn with a constant and uniform pressure. In this manner the liquid is applied over the whole surface of the yarn, in a uniform and constant manner, irrespective of the time for which the operation is continued, and of the precise manner in which the yarn is initially set in the wick at the beginning of the operation.

One iorm of apparatus by means of which the invention may be carried out comprises two pairs of arms, each pair being pivoted together at their mid points after the manner of a pair of scissors, the upper ends of the said arms carrying two opposing horizontal bars or blocks, while the lower ends carry two horizontal platforms on which weights may be placed so that the horizontal bars or blocks are pressed together. The arms and the other parts carried by them are suspended on suitable pivots in a frame or stand, at the points where the arms are pivoted together. Wicks are suspended over the upper horizontal bars or blocks and are supplied with the liquid to be applied. The yarn is caused to pass along and between the two horizontal bars or blocks, being pressed on opposite sides by the two wicks provided with liquid material. The wicks may depend into a trough containing the liquid, so that the supply is eiifected by capillary action, or

a the liquid may be caused to drip on to the wicks,

which then mainly serve to distribute it evenly on to the yarn. At each end of the device a guide may be provided to direct the yarn between the wiclrs. The wicks may be simply suspended over the bars or blocks or clipped thereto, or alternatively the bars or bloclrs may have an absorbent covering supplied with liquid by means of separate wiclrs, or by means of drip tubes. Other forms of weight loaded pressing arrangements may be adopted, or springs, (preferably adjustable) may be used to press the wicks together on to the yarn.

Any material of the kindpreviously mentioned may be treated according to the invention but the invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of artificial materials continuously with their production, and especially artificial materials of cellulose acetate or other organic derivatives of cellulose continuously with their production by the dry or evaporative method. Such materials however, may be treated otherwise than continuously with their production, as for example, during bobbin-to-bobbin or other winding operations, and further, yarns of natural fibres such as silk, cotton, wool or the like or mixed yarns may be treated in a similar manner.

The invention may be used to apply any desired liquid to the yarn, but is particularly suitable for the application of a relatively thin limpid liquid such as may ordinarily be applied by means of a wick. Thus the invention may be applied to the lubrication of yarns in any textile operation e. g. knitting by means of lubricating oils or other agents, or again, water may be applied to the yarns for the purpose of conditioning them. Dyes or other efiect materials of a liquid character, or any other liquids required. to prepare the yarns for dyeing or other operations may similarly be applied. The liquid may be of such a nature as to render the yarns sticky, e. g. so that added efiect materials such as powders or fibres may be caused to adhere to them. Thus for EX ample in the case of artificial materials of cellulose acetate or other organic derivatives of cellulose, suitable solvents or softeners such as acetone,:or a mixture of alcohol and methylene dichloride may be applied to the yarn, for this or any other purpose.

Another application oi the present invention is the lubrication oiyarns'oi' cellulose acetate or other organic derivatives of cellulose continuously with their production by the dry or evaporative method. This operation prior to the twisting of the yarns nullifles the effect of any electrification of the separate filaments which may occur by causing the bundle of filaments forming untwisted yarn to stick together until they are twisted. For this purpose, wherein a relatively small quantity of lubricating liquid must be applied to the yarn, the apparatus ac cording to the present invention is particularly applicable. In a similar manner, and for a similar purpose, a size may be applied to the yarn, which dries on the yarn. In this case, twisting may be dispensed with entirely, the sizing material serving to hold the yard together after it has dried; for example, molten wax may be used for this purpose, the apparatus being heated by any suitable heating means up to or above the melting point of the wax, which is preferably supplied in molten form to the absorbent material by means of drip tubes.

The present invention may be employed in the production of straws, tapes, bristles or the like from artificim materials, whether continu ously with their production or otherwise. In this operation, a bundle of continuous filaments passed through the device according to the invention, which is then adapted to apply a solvent or softening liquid to them n quai which uniform along the length of the merits. After: having been moistened in this manner the filaments are caused to adhere to one another to form a tmitary filament. In the manufacture of straws or tapes this adhesion is followed by the application of pressure to the filaments between a pair rollers. In this operation the device according to the invention is particularly useful since a high degree of uniformity in the application of the solvent or soft-= ening liquid is of the greatest importance, and it is essential that when the filaments are set to run in the moistening device they should be set in such a manner that the degree of moistening should be definite and constant.

The invention is not or" course confined to the use of one moistening device. Two or more devices supplying the same or different liquids may be used on the same yarn, or one or more of the devices according to the invention may be used in conjunction with moistening devices of any other character for the purpose of applying one or more liquids to a travelling yarn.

Two forms of apparatus according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that the following description is given 1by way of example only and is in no way limitaive.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a. weight for use with the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is an and elevation of a. further form of device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 5 is a container having secured to its end walls brackets 8 adapted to support a horizontal spindle I. Pivotally mounted at each end of the spindle I is a pair of scissors-like arms 8, 9, the arms 8 of each pair being connected at their upper ends by a block In and at their lower ends by a platform I l, and the ends of the arms 9 of each pair also being similarly connected. The platforms II are provided with pegs l2 adapted to enter holes I3 in weights l5 placed on the platforms II. Wicks l5 are doubled over the blocks l0 and secured thereto by staples Hi, the ends I! of the wicks depending into the container 5. On the insides of the block Hi the wicks l5 face each other and are pressed together to a. degree determined by the amount of the weights I placed on the platforms H.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the pressure between the wicks IE is caused by a. spring l8. The spring is carried on one end of a. screw I9 passing through lower extensions of the mean? arms 8, The tendency of the spring i8 is to draw the arms 8, 9 towards each other so as to press the wicks i5 together, and the pressure thus exerted may be regulated by means of a nut 211. A similar screw may be provided in connection with. the arms 8, 9 at the other end of blocks id.

Guides 22 supported by the container 5 or otherwise at each end of the device keep the material under treatment in position between the wicks so that it follows a steady path, and, by the constant and uniform pressure urging the wicks on to it, receives a constant application of the liquid, supplied by the wicks. v

f/hat we claim and desire to secure by Let- Patent is:- Apparatus for the application of liquids to -lling yams, threads, filaments and textile materials, comprising a vessel adapted to contain the liquid to be applied, two oppositely disposed wicks, pivotally connected arms supporting said wicks and weights adapted to be carried by said arms for causing the wicks to press against each other at a point where the yarn is to pass between them, said wicks extending downwardly into said vessel and thereby adapted to feed the liquid to the yarn in controlled amount by capillary action.

2. Apparatus for the application of liquids to travelling yarns, threads, filaments and like textile materials, comprising a vessel adapted to contain the liquid to be applied, two oppositely disposed wicks, pivotally connected arms supporting said wicks and springs carried by said arms for causing the wicks to press against each other at a point where the yarn is to pass between them, said wicks extending downwardly into said vessel and thereby adapted to feed the liquid to the yarn in controlled amount by capillary action.

3. Apparatus for the application of liquids to travelling yarns, threads, filaments and like textile materials comprising a vessel adapted to contain the liquid to be applied, two oppositely disposed wicks, pivotally connected arms supporting said wicks, and means for pressing togather the faces of said wicks at a. point where the yarn is to pass between them, said wicks extending downwardly into said vessel and thereby adapted to feed the liquid to the yarn in controlled amount by capillary action.

4. Apparatus for the application of liquids to travelling yarns, threads, filaments and like textile materials, comprising a pair of opposing wicks adapted to be supplied with liquid in controlled amount by capillary action, pivotally connected arms supporting said wicks, means for pressing together the faces of said wicks and means adapted to direct passage of the yarn between the faces of said wicks and to preclude motion transverse to the yarn between the yarn and the wicks.

5. Apparatus for the application of liquids to travelling yarns, threads, filaments and. like textile materials, comprising a pair of opposing wicks adapted to be supplied with liquid in controlled amount by capillary action, pivotally connected arms supporting said wicks, means for pressing together the faces of said wicks at a. point where the yarn is to pass between them, and guides adapted to direct the yarn between the faces of said wicks'so as to preclude motion transverse to the yarn between the yarn and the wicks.

WILLIAM GEOFFREY LOWE. REGINALD HENRY JOHN RILEY. 

